Stave-column.



.No. 756,261. l PATENTED APR. 5, 1904.

ST AVE GOLUMN. APPLIOATIOI FILED AUG. 6, 1908.

H0 IODEL.

WITNESSES, INVENTOR 7 V I I A77'0H/VEY Patented April 5, 1904.

PAT NT OFFICE.

JOHN s. MILLER, OF FORT WAYNE,

INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO JAMES M. HENRY, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

STAVE-COLUMN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 756,261, dated April 5, 1904.

Application filed August'ii, 1903.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN S. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Wayne, in the county of Allen and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stave-Columns; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in stave-columns; and the object thereof is to construct a column of staves and secure said staves together in a manner to prevent them from parting when expansion and contraction occur. This object is attained by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective view showing a column embodying my invention, and Fig. 2

is a diagram showing a plan of the spring-- clamp and its relation to the abutting staves. Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in both views, and referring now to the same, 3 3 are staves, each having a tongue and groove I to match, respectively, the adjacent staves, and said staves are arranged in a circle to form a column. Upon the inner sides of the staves are made kerfs 5, which range parallel with the edges of the staves and slant outward toward the sides thereof.

6 6 are metallic spring-clamps, having jaws 7 ,which are adapted to fit, respectively, in one kerf of one'stave and in the adjacent kerf of the abutting stave, thus uniting the abutting staves. When in place, the inner ends of the jaws 7 are held, by reason of the spring of the clamp 6, agalnst the sides of the corresponding kerfs nearest the abutting sides of the staves, so that said staves are constantly pressed together by said clamps. In this man- Serial No. 168,420. (No model.)

ner the metallic springs compensate for any natural expansion or contraction of the timber of which the staves are formed, which usually occurs because of climatic variations.

In constructing the column it is expedient to first secure a suflicient number of staves together to form two separate half-columns, sliding into place the metallic clamps, and then uniting the half-columns, using the metallic clamps as in fastening together the staves.

Of course glue may also be used in forming the joints between the staves, and when formed the column may be given an ornamental form by turning or dressing, as desired.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

- 1. In combination with a series of staves arranged in a circle to form a column, kerfs made in the inner sides of each of said staves adjacent to and ranging parallel with the sides thereof, and the metallic spring-clamps having jaws adapted to fit respectively in the adjacent kerfs of the abutting staves and press said staves together.

2. In a stave-column, a series of staves arranged in a circle; kerfs made in the inner sides of said staves adjacent to and ranging parallel with the sides thereof, the said kerfs slanting outward toward the sides of said staves; and the metallic spring-clamps having jaws adapted to fit respectively in one kerf of one stave and in the adjacent kerf of the abutting stave, the ends of said jaws being held, by reason of the spring of the clamp, against the sides of the corresponding kerfs nearest the abutting sides of the staves and thereby pressing said staves together.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\ JOHN s. MILLER.

Witnesses:

- W. G. BURNS, M. J. BLITZ. 

